Air pump assembly



H. R. HOLT AIR PUMP ASSEMBLY March 5, 1968 Filed June 16. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 5, 1968 R. Hour AIR PUMP ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1966 United States Patent Otitice Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,371,852 AIR PUMP ASSEMBLY Harley R. Holt, River Forest, Ill., assignor to Ray-Wayland Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 16, 1966, Ser. No. 558,102 8 Claims. (Cl. 23o-55) This invention relates to air pumps and has particular relation to air pumps usable, for example, in supplying oxygen to fish tanks.

One purpose of the invention is to provide an air pump capable of sustained, continuous operation.

Another purpose is to provide an air pump of maximum simplicity and economy in construction and operation.

Another purpose is to provide an air pump having means insuring minimum deflection of a pump shaft.

Another purpose is to provide an air pump having automatically effective alternate air outlet means.

Another purpose is to provide a pump outlet control device.

Other purposes will appear from time to time during the course ofthe specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or 4less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevation in cross section;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view with the cover removed;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed view of the pump mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5h5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are detailed views illustrating the valve portion of the pump mechanism; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the pump outlet control assembly.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates a housing including a body 2, a cover portion 3 and a base 4. An opening 5 provides for egress of air into the area within the body 2.

A plurality of springs 6, shown as four in number, yieldingly suspends a plate 7 from the body 2 adjacent an upper portion thereof as the parts are shown in the drawings. Upstanding from opposite ends of the plate 7 are support rods 8, 9. A support rod 8a parallels, in spaced relation therewith, the rod 8, the upper portion thereof being indicated at 8a in FIGURE 2. Carried by the upper ends of the rods 8, 9a and 9 is a second support plate 10. Carried by and suspended from the plate 10 is a magnetic solenoid assembly indicated generally by the numeral 11 and including a U-shaped magnet 12 and coil 13. Electrical conductors 13a extend :trom the coil 13 outwardly of the housing 1.

A set of generally rectilinear, spaced, parallel leaf spring elements 14, 15 are secured at one end thereof to the rods 8, 8a as indicated at 16. Carried at the opposite ends of the elements 14, 15 are spacer members 17, 18. The spacers 17, 18 parallel the rods 8, 8a and carry, above the members 14, 15, a cross plate 19. The plate 19 is spaced below the member 11 and is of sufficient extension to bridge the legs of the magnet 12.

The spacers 17, 18 carry, below the elements 14, 15, the pump shaft 20. It will be observed that an attaching element 20a connects the shaft 20 to the spacers 17, 18 and positions the shaft 20 inwardly of the outer ends of elements 14, 15.

The plate 7 is centrally apertured as indicated at 21 in FIGURE 4. The shaft 20 extends downwardly, as the parts are shown, through the aperture 21. A pair of clamping discs 22, 23 are carried by the shaft 20 in spaced relation thereon and clamp therebetween the central portion of a pump diaphragm 24. The discs 22, 23 are of a diameter less than that of the aperture 21 and are therefore free to reciprocate therein. The diaphragm 24 has a circular extension 25 extending beyond and about the perimeter of disc 23. A circular groove 26 is formed in the opposite face of the diaphragm 24 in alignment with and extending toward the circular ridge or lip extension 25. Outwardly of the groove 26 the diaphragm 24 has a circular ridge 27 extending upwardly into the opening 21 in plate 7.

The diaphragm 24 has an outer perimeter portion, bcyond the ridge 27, which is apertured for reception of suitable connector elements, such as those shown at 28, which in turn secure an outer pump housing portion 29 to the plate 7.

The pump housing portion 29 carries therewithin the Valve assembly illustrated in FIGURES 5-8. A valve plate 30, illustrated in FIGURE 6, has spaced therein an inlet opening 31 and an outlet opening 32. A countersink 33 surrounds the inlet opening 31, The housing 29 has a cavity 34 therein, the base of which is apertured to form spaced, parallel, adjacent outlet openings 35, 36 and an inlet opening 37. A countersink 33 surrounds the outlet openings 35, 36. As best seen in FIGURE 7, the valve element itself comprises a flexible disc 40 having the curved slots 41, 42 aligned therein, the slots 41, 42 being substantially three-quarter circular and defining dapper valve portions 43, 44, respectively.

The pump housing portion 29 includes depending bosses 35a, 36a through which the outlets 35, 36 extend and which provide for connection of air conduits 35]), 36b, respectively, as may be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. A collar `45 depends from the housing portion 29 and surrounds the inlet opening 37. Conduit 3512 is in turn secured to a conduit connector 46 extending through the wall of housing portion 2 for delivery of air through suitable further conduit elements as may be desired. Conduit 36b is secured to a boss 47 extending inwardly of housing portion 2.

As may be best seen in FIGURE 9, the boss 47 has extending therethrough an air inlet passage 48. The passage 48 communicates with a chamber A in the outlet control assembly of FIGURE 9. Carried within the chamber A is a filter element which may be conveniently formed of a suitable foamed plastic material. The chamber A is circular and surrounds a central, circular valve seat 49. A flexible disc 50 lies across the seat 49 and across the circular chamber A, the perimeter of the disc 50 being clamped between -body portions 51, 52 of the device of FIGURE 9. A seal ring 53 is carried in a pocket 54 of the Vseat 49 for engagement with one surface of the disc 50 when the valve disc 50 is seated on valve seat 49. Urged against the opposite face of disc 50, as by the spring 55, is a diaphragm plate 56. The plate 56 includes a hollow tubular rear extension 57 within which the spring 55 is positioned. The outer diameter of extension 57 is less than the inner diameter of an adjustment member SS'threadably carried in body portion 52 and in which the extension 57 is slidable. Both the disc50 and plate 56 are centrally apertured for passage of air from chamber A across seat 49 and seal ring 53, as indicated at `60. Air passing through the openings indicated at 6i) proceeds through extension 57 through the space between the outer diameter of extension 57 and the adjustment member 58 and into chamber B from whence it escapes through outlet passage 61.

Whereas there has been shown and described an operative form of the invention, it should be understood that this showing and description are to be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are many modifications in and tothe invention which will be ap- 3 parent to those skilled in the art and which will fall within the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

As electrical energy is supplied by conductors 13a, the magnetic solenoid assembly 11 is actuated, producing a rapid reciprocation of plate 19 toward and away from assembly 11, the parallel spring elements 14, 15 being effective to permit attraction of the plate 19 toward and to withdraw plate 19 from assembly 11 as the magnet 12 is, in effect, energized and deenergized. The spring elements 14, 15' being parallel and extending from rods 8, 8a to spacers 17, 18 are effective to maintain the resulting reciprocation of pump shaft 20 in virtually an axial vertical direction. Any amount 0f horizontal deflection of the shaft 20 is so minimal as to be invisible to the naked eye and to render its effect virtually nonexistent. With prior pumps of the general type disclosed herein, a major problem has resulted from horizontal deection of the pump shaft as the pump is operated, resulting in Wear and restriction of the pump life, increased down-time and undue replacement of parts. The parallel extending leaf spring elements 14, 15, constituting the support for the shaft 2i), are effective to eliminate the problems resulting from such lateral displacement of the pump shaft.

As the shaft 20 moves upwardly, drawing diaphragm 24 with it, air is drawn through inlet 37 into the area beneath flapper valve 43, whereupon valve 43 is moved into countersink 33 and air is permitted to by-pass flapper valve 43 through the slot 42 and inlet 31 to enter the area within pump housing 29 above the plate 30. Such upward movement of disc 24 also produced a movement of fiapper valve 44 upwardly against the flat surface about outlet 32 to close it. The disc 24 is thereupon moved downwardly, as the parts are shown in the drawings, directing air through parts 31, 32 to move iiapper valve 43 against the flat surface surrounding inlet 37 and closing the inlet 37. Simultaneously, the fiapper valve V44 is moved into countersink 3S and air is permitted to pass through slot 41 and outlets 35, 36 to pump outlet connection 46 and to the pump control member shown in FIGURE 9.

Under normal operation air is thus delivered to both conduits 35b and 36h. Since, however, the movement of air through the device of FIGURE 9 with which conduit 36h communicates is impeded or prevented by filter A, valve seat 49 and disc 50 under the infiuence of spring 55, air will normally be delivered through conduit connector 46 for further delivery to a place of use. Should, however, delivery of air through conduit 3511 and connector 46 be impeded in some manner, the air pressure thus or similarly built up will produce an unseating of disc 50 from seat 49 and will provide for delivery of air from the pump of the invention through chamber A, valve seat 49, apertures 60 and outlet 61. It will be realized that the relief point of the device of FIGURE 9 can be set by adjustment of member 58 controlling the effect of spring S5 and that the pressure at which the device of FIGURE 9 will become operative may thus be predetermined.

There is claimed:

1. In an air pump assembly, an air pump having a reciprocating shaft and means for supporting said shaft including a pair of spaced, parallel leaf spring elements, each of said elements being fixedly secured adjacent one of their ends to a support and being xedly secured adjacent their opposite ends to said shaft, said elements normally extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and in- 4- cluding means for operating said pump, said means including a magnetic solenoid and a plate operative in response to actuation of said solenoid, said plate being carried by said leaf spring elements adjacent their said opposite ends.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shaft is carried by said leaf spring elements at a point intermediate the mid-point of said elements and their said opposite ends.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said air pump includes a diaphragm secured to said shaft for reciprocation of the central portion of said diaphragm, a chamber defined on one side by said diaphragm central portion, a first fixed wall defining the opposite side of said chamber, an inlet opening and an outlet Opening in said wall, a second fixed wall spaced from an paralleling said first wall, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in said second wall, said first and second inlet and outlet openings being respectively substantially aligned and a fiapper valve element positioned between said walls to permit entry of air through said inlets to said chamber and to close the outlet in said first wall in response to movement of said diaphragm central portion in one direction and to close the inlet in said second wall and permit exhaust of air through said outlets from said chamber in response to movement of said diaphragm central portion in the opposite direction.

5. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a pair of outlets formed in said pump, one of said pump outlets communicating with atmosphere, the other of said pump outlets communicating with a control device, said device including a chamber communicating with said one pump outlet and a device outlet communicating with atmosphere, a valve controlling communication between said chamber and said device outlet, and yielding means urging said valve into closed position.

6. A pump control device including a body, a circular chamber in said `body, filter material substantially filling said chamber, an inlet communicating with said chamber, a circular valve seat surrounding the central axis of said chamber, a diaphragm lying across and closing said chamber and seating on said seat, a central opening in said diaphragm within and axially aligned with said seat, yielding means urging said diaphragm toward said seat, and an outlet communicating with said diaphragm opening.

7. An air pump assembly including a housing, a plate yieldingly supported within said housing, a magnetic solenoid carried on and spaced from said plate, a pump carried on said plate, a pump shaft extending toward said solenoid from said plate, a pair of spaced parallel leaf springs, each of said springs having an end portion connected to said plate and an end portion connected to said shaft, said springs extending between said pump and solenoid.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said pump includes a pair of outlets, one of said outlets communicating with an area externally of said housing, the other of said outlets communicating with a chamber, an outlet for said chamber and valve means yieldingly closing communication of said chamber with said last-named outlet when the pressure in said chamber is below a predetermined level.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,838 8/1954 Weinfurt 103-53 XR 2,961,149 ll/l960 Hull 230- 3,156,405 11/1964 Curwen 23o- 55 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN AN AIR PUMP ASSEMBLY, AN AIR PUMP HAVING A RECIRPOCATING SHAFT AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SHAFT INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL LEAF SPRING ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING FIXEDLY SECURED ADJACENT ONE OF THEIR ENDS TO A SUPPORT AND BEING FIXEDLY SECURED ADJA- 